Since first entering a recording studio some 15 years ago, singer/guitarist Erja Lyytinen has become a bona fide star in her homeland and a fixture on the international music scene.
In that time, "the Finnish slide goddess" (The Blues Magazine) has recorded in places as diverse as Helsinki, London and Memphis, earning numerous accolades along the way.
Rooted in both traditional and modern blues, she successfully blends styles like jazz, pop, soul and rock into a sound all her own.
Born into a musical family in the town of Kuopio, Lyytinen quickly emerged as an artist to watch in her native country. She recorded her international debut Pilgrimage after signing with Germany's prestigious Ruf Records label in 2005.
The 2006 Blues Caravan tour gave audiences in Europe and the United States a first taste of her spirited live performances. The solo follow-up Dreamland Blues took her back to the USA to record with David and Kinney Kimbrough (sons of Mississippi blues legend Junior Kimbrough).
After two years on the road, she returned with Grip of the Blues in 2008, mixing hard-edged blues with modern R&B. Her 2010 release Voracious Love was even more adventurous: The lavishly orchestrated "Bed of Roses" – featuring contributions from Marco Hietala (Nightwish) on vocals and Apocalyptica cellist Paavo Lötjönen – showed once and for all that Lyytinen is unafraid to push the stylistic envelope.
With 2013's Forbidden Fruit, she returned to more familiar territory, and it's follow-up, The Sky Is Crying eas was universally hailed as her best and bluesiest recording to date.
This collection of stripped-down, old-school blues convinced even the most discerning listeners that Lyytinen's feel for the blues runs deep and that as a slide player, she has few peers.
For her latest current album Stolen Hearts, Lyytinen convened a talented group of musicians in Helsinki then ventured to London's State of the Ark Studios to record with multi-platinum selling engineer and producer Chris Kimsey, known for his contributions to classic Rolling Stones albums like Sticky Fingers and Some Girls. In fact, Stolen Hearts was mixed on the very same EMI console Kimsey had often used with the Stones.
"Chris said it was like meeting an old girlfriend after many years. He sat in front of the desk and his magic started to happen."
Last June 2018 Erja opened for Santana at Helsinki’s Kaisaniemi Park.
Carlos Santana invited Erja to play on stage in front of 20 000 people. “It was inspiring to see her play. It was from the future and I like the future,” Santana said giving her a nickname “Lightning” referring to Lightnin’ Hopkins.
Erja will headline a big run of UK dates in March, and comes to The Stables at Wavendon on March 20.
To book tickets click here
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